Hydraulic turbine clutch and transmission



Nw M, 11939. L C, POPPER 2,179'518 HYDRAULIC TURBINE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION Original Filed NOV. 9, 1955 Patented Nov. 14, 1939 HYDRAULIC TURBINE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION Isaac C. Popper, New York', N. Y., assignor, by.

mesne assignments, to Automatic Turbine Drive Company, Inc., Providence, R. I., a corporation of New York Application November 9, 1933, Serial No. 697,334 Renewed October 1, 1936 .15 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement iny hydraulic turbine clutches and transmissions,

The principal objects of this invention are to simplify the control of motor torque for various speeds to control power at varying speeds without shifting gears, thereby adding to the life of the vehicle by the prevention of severe shocks from the motor to the driving wheels.

Another object is to reduce the cost of manufacture as my improved invention combines or does the work of the present clutch and transmission all in one at least to some extent. Another object is to reduce crystallization by preventing jerking or lshocking of the automobile, boat, stationary machine, or any other structure to which the invention is applied.

This present invention is a fluid transmission mechanism for power more especially designed for automobiles, although adaptable for many other uses. In the automobile eld, it has among others the following advantages: It does away with shift-gears and the shifting of gears for different speeds; itv simplifies driving; it eliminates shock in starting; it minimizes wear and tear on the car; it reduces manufacturing cost; it allows for free wheeling at medium speeds but automatically brakes inv case of excessive free wheeling speed, especially on down grades in case the brakebecomes inoperative.

The foregoing are a few of the advantages, but will serve to illustrate the superiority of this invention over other well-known present types of clutch and transmission now in use.

The ordinary gear-shift is a notoriously objectionable feature in' automobiles which has `never been satisfactorily eliminated. The present invention does away with it entirely.

In the accompanying drawing: 4

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the control device and controlling cylinder, with parts shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a. detail vertical sectional View showing the control pedal and piston rod in elevation.

The numeral Il represents the iiywheel or driving rotor having the usual peripheral teeth 32 which the starter engages. This flywheel or driving-rotor is secured to the flange B of the crank-shaft by means of bolts 2l. The outside casing 6 is securely bolted to the ilywheel or driving-rotor. A driven rotor 2 is interposed between the fly-Wheel or driving-rotor I and the casing 6, more or less conforming in shape to the latter, but .leaving ample space between the driven rotor 2 and the casing 6 and between the driven rotor 2 and the flywheel or driving-rotor I to form fluid chambers I0 and lila, one or more openings I2 being provided in the rotor 2 to allow fluid to pass between the chambers I0 and I 0a or from one side of the driven rotor 2, to the other.

The driven rotor 2 is keyed to the drivenshaft I3.

In the semi-circular spaces between the ilywheel or driving-rotor I and the driven rotor 2, vanes 3 and 4 are placed, the vanes 3 being secured to the flywheel or driving rotor, and the vanes 4 to the driven rotor. Circumferentially through the center of these vanes 3 and 4 a chan- I nel 3i is formed by a. divergence of the inner ends of the vanes as shown in Fig. l, and this channel 3i receives the fluid and discharges it into the buckets between the vanes. The driving and the driven rotors are spaced Aapart at their inner and outer peripheries, thus providing a fluid inlet passageway 3| at the inner periphery and a fluid outlet passageway 43 at the outer periphery, the fluid outlet passageway 43 leading to the outer narrowportion 44 ofthe chamber I0. The chamber I0, the chamber Illa, the space between the rotors and the fluid controlling cylinder are thus in free communication casing 6 to prevent escape of uid from the chambers I0 and Illa.

The driven shaft I3 is bored longitudinally a certain distance to form one or more iiuid ducts as at a, after which the end b is plugged and one or more holes I6 are provided which extend radially and communicate with the chambers Ill and Illa for the passage of fluid into and out of the chambers IIJ and Illa. One or more holes I4 at the inner end of the bores a extend radially of the shaft I3 to the collar 9, which surrounds the shaft I3 and in which the latter turns, adjustable followers II being employed to make a fluid-tight. joint.

The numeral I8 represents a fluid controlling cylinder of any approved form, and I9 is a piston therein, which has a piston ring 20 for creating a tight fit with the.wall.of the cylinder. The piston rod 24 extends fromV the piston through the packing-box 23, and a spring 39 is located inside the cylinder. and interposed between the piston and one head of the cylinder, pressing outwardly on each, its function being to create an outward pressure on the piston. At one end of the cylinder, an air vent 22 provides for the free passage of air in and out. 'I'he opposite end of the cylinder is fllled with fluid.

The action of the piston is controlled in any approved manner, as for instance by the footpedal 35, the lower end of which is slotted to' receive a pin 26 attached to piston-rod 24, and a ratchet locking device is attached to the pedal to hold the same in a set position.

Pipes 36 extend'from the nipples 31 on the collar 9 to the nipples 38 on the head of the cylinder, and through these pipes and the openings 2| in the nipples 38 the fluid passes back and forth between the chambers I0 and Illa and the cylinder I8.

Fluid is replenished through the hole 40, and may be removed at any time through the same hole. .A screw-threaded plug 4I closes the hole.

A reverse gear (not shown) of any approved form may be used. Also in applying my improved mechanism it is unnecessary to remove the regular shift gear mechanism. It may be retained or removed. Some manufacturers may prefer to4 retain the shift-gears since some means .for reversing the driven shaft is usually necessary.

As the mechanism is simple, so is the operation. e The cylinder and piston act as a pressure variator. When not otherwise resisted by the foot pressure, the piston is moved by the spring 39 in a direction to withdraw some of the fluid from the chambers I0 and Illa. This is done when the engine is idling or the vehicle is slowed down or stopped. To start the vehicle, fluid from the cylinder is forced into the chambers I0 and Illa, and the operator may regulate the speed of the car by the amount of fluid forced into the chambers I0 and Illa. For a gradual start, a slight amount is forced into the chambers I0 and I 0a. For a quick pick-up, a larger amount of fluid is forced or pumped into the chambers I0 and Illa; and to attain the highest speed the chambers I0 and I0a are fllled to completion, which means the flywheel I and the rotor 2 move together through the medium of the fluid trapped between the vanes 3 and 4. In other words, the elements I and 2 travel at substantially the same speed when the operator forces the full complement of fluid into the chambers III and Illa.

Thus the starting, the pick-up, and speed of the vehicle may be controlled and operated by the one foot-lever after the engine is started and the flywheel commences to turn, and the whole forward motion of the vehicle may be controlled by the amount of fluid in the chambers I 0 and Illa, all of which is under the control of the operator.

When the vehicle is standing still, the piston I9 will have been moved to the outer end of its stroke, thus having drawn the major portion of the fluid into the cylinder I8. When starting, the operator feeds the gas to the engine in the usual way, and presses on the control pedal 35, forcing fluid out of the cylinder through the pipes 36,.the bores a of the shaft I3', and thence into the fluid chambers I0 and Illa. As soon as fluid enters the chambers, motion will be smoothly transmitted without a jerk from the driving to the driven part of the mechanism.

In order to speed up the vehicle, the operator naturally feeds more gas and simultaneously forces more uid into the chambers until the speed of the elements I and 2 becomes substantially the same.

Thus I am able to dispense with the use of the ordinary clutch as well as the gear-shift mechanism since my improved mechanism combines and does away to some extent at least with the work of the present clutch and transmission.

The mechanism hereinbefore described is supposed to be typical and more or less illustrative,

but I do not care to have it understood by any means that it is the only form my invention may take, as I desire to be fully protected in al1 modifled forms that would come within the scope of the invention and the claims.

1. Mechanism of the character described including a driving and a driven rotor having means forming a hydraulic coupling therebetween, a driven shaft to which the driven rotor is connected, a casing secured to the driving rotor and enclosing the driven rotor and forming a fluid chamber between said casing and the driven rotor, the driven rotor having openings to allow the passage of fluid from one side thereofv to the other, a cylinder in communication with the fluid chamber, a piston fitted to the cylinder, a spring exerting pressure between the piston and one end of the cylinder tending to move the piston in a direction to withdraw fluid from the chamber, a piston rod, and a lever connected with the piston rod to move the piston in the opposite direction whereby pressure of the uid in the cylinder and fluid chamber is manually controlled by the lever.

2. Mechanism of the character described including a driving and a driven rotor having means forming a hydraulic coupling therebetween, a driven shaft to which the driven rotor is connected, a casing secured to the driving rotor and lenclosing the driven rotor and forming na fluid chamber between said casing and the driven rotor, the driven rotor having openings to allow the passage of fluid from one side thereof to the other, a cylinder in communication with the fluid chamber through the driven shaft, a piston fitted to the cylinder, a spring within the cylinder exerting pressure between the piston and one end of the cylinder tending to move the piston in a direction to withdraw fluid from the chamber, a piston rod, and a lever connected with the. piston rod to move the piston in the opposite direction, whereby pressure of the fluid in the cylinder and fluid chamber is manually controlled by the lever.

3. Mechanism of the character described including a driving and a driven rotor having means forming a hydraulic coupling therebetween, a driven shaft to which the driven rotor is connected, a casing secured to the driving rotor and enclosing the driven rotor and forming a fluid chamber between said casing and the driven rotor, the driven rotor having openings to allow the passage of fluid from one side thereof to the other, a cylinder in communication with the fluid chamber, a piston fitted to the cylinder, a spring within the cylinder exerting pressure between the piston and one end of the cylinder tending to move the piston in a direction to withdraw fluid from the chamber, a piston rod, a. lever connected with the piston rod to move the piston in the opposite direction whereby pressure of the fluid in the cylinder and fluid chamber is manually controlled by the lever, the lever having a loose connection with the piston rod, a foot pedal connected with thelever, and means connected with the foot-pedal for locking the lever to maintain and hold the pressure within the fluid chamber. I

4. In a hydraulic power transmission, the combination with driving and driven members, of 5 driving and driven rotors connected respectively with said driving and driven members and having a hydraulic coupling therebetween for the transmission of power, a casing attached to the driving rotor and enclosing the .driven rotor, said l driven rotor dividing the space between the driving rotor and casing into chambers which communicate with each other through at least one opening through the driven rotor, one of said chambers having communication around thel l driven rotor with the space between the rotors,

and means for supplying liquid through the driven member from externally of said transmission directly to the other of said chambers.

5. In a hydraulic power transmission, the com- 20 bination with driving and driven members, of

driving and driven rotors connected respectively with said driving and driven members and having a hydraulic coupling therebetween for the transmission of power, a casing attached to the driving rotor and enclosing the driven rotor, said driven rotor having a perforated radial web dividing the space between the driving rotor and casing into chambers which communicate through said web, one of said chambers having communication around the driven rotor with the space between the rotors, the driven member having an internal supply bore communicating directly with the other of said chambers and having a liquid supply connection externally of said transmission.

6. In a hydraulic power transmission, the combination with a driving member and a driven shaft, of driving and drivenrotors connected respectively with said driving member and driven shaft, and having cooperating vanes in opposing sides thereof, a casing attached tothe driving rotor and enclosing the driven rotor, said driven rotor having a perforated web dividing the space between the driving rotor and casing into chambers which communicate through said web, one of said chambers having communication around the driven rotor with the space between the rotors, the driven shaft having longitudinal and radial bores therein extending directly to the other of said chambers, and means externally of said transmission for supplying liquid to said bores.

7. In a hydraulic power transmission, the combination of a driving rotor, a driven rotor, a casing forming a fluid chamber between said casing andthe driven rotor, a cylinder having means of communication with the fluid chamber, a piston in the cylinder, resilient means within the cylinder bearing against the piston in a direction tending to move the piston for withdrawal of uid from the chamber, and a piston rod connected with the lpiston and arranged to move the piston in the opposite direction.

8. In a hydraulic power transmission, the combination of a driving rotor, a driven rotor, a casing forming a fluid chamber between said'casing and the driven rotor, a cylinder having means of communication with the fluid chamber, a piston in the cylinder, resilient means within the cylinder bearing against the piston in a direction tending to move the piston for withdrawal of iluid from the chamber, a piston rod connected with the piston and arranged to move the piston in the opposite direction, and a lever connected with the piston rod for actuating the piston whereby pressure of the fluid in thev fluid chamber is manually controlled.

Y 9. In a hydraulic power transmission, the combination of a driving rotor, a driven rotor, a casing forming a fluid chamber between said casing and the driven rotor, a cylinder having means of communication with the fluid chamber, a piston in the cylinder, resilient means in the cylinder bearing against the piston in one direction, and a piston-rod connected with the piston and extending therefrom in the opposite direction from the resilient means, said piston rod extending through an end of the cylinder in position for manual actuation of the piston against the pressure of the resilient means.

10. In a hydraulic power transmission, the combination of driving and driven rotors having a hydraulic coupling therebetween, a casing connected with the driving rotor and enclosing the driven rotor, a shaft connectedwith one of said rotors, said driven rotor having means dividing the space in the casing into chambers which communicate directly with each other within the transmission, and pressure 'means for supplying fluid through the shaft from externally of said transmission to at least one of said chambers, at the axes of the rotors.

l1. In a hydraulic power transmission, the combination of driving and driven rotors having a hydraulic coupling therebetween and having radially spaced inner and outer rims which are spaced apart to provide flow passages between the inner rims and the outer rims thereof, a casing about at least one of said rotors and forming `an unobstructed fluid chamber therearound from hub to periphery, means of communication from said fluid chamber directly with the ow passages between the inner and outer rims of the rotors, and means for supplying liquid from externally of the transmission into the transmission at a point adjacent the axis of rotation of the rotors.

12. In a hydraulic power transmission, the combination of a driving rotor, a driven rotor, a casing forming a uld chamber between said casing and the driven rotor, a cylinder having means of communication with the iuid chamber and vhaving a capacity not less than 20% of the chamber capacity, a 'piston vin the cylinder, resilient means in the cylinder bearing against the piston in one direction, and a piston-rod connected with the piston and extending therefrom in the opposit direction from the resilient means, said piston .rod extending through an end ofthe cylinder in fluid chamber and said second fluid chamber with said fluid inlet.

14. 'Ihe combination of a driven shaft, driving and driven rotors concentric therewith, said rotors having cooperating opposed radial Vvanes forming a fluid chamber therebetween, a casing enclosing the rotors and forming a s econd fluid chamber between said casing and one rotor, a fiuid inlet to said rotor fiuid chamber between said rotors, a pressure fluid reservoir in free communication with said iiuid inlet, and ducts respectively connecting said rotor fluid chamber peripherally with said second uid chamber and said second uid chamber with said fluid inlet.

the rotors having opposed, cooperating, radial vanes which create a ow of uid in the ud chamber between the rotors and the external fluid chamber,;said rotors being spaced adjacent the shaft to provide a uid inlet, and a pressure v reservoir for uid inconstant communication with the said inlet.

ISAAC C. POPPER. 

